Hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs

ABSTRACT

A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs is disclosed. In order to operate within the limited space available on a hand-held electronic device, the present invention optimizes the placement and shape of the keys, preferably using keys that are oval or oblong in shape, and that are placed at angles designed to facilitate thumb-typing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/900,585, filed on Jul. 6, 2001, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/106,585, filed on Jun. 29, 1998,which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Application Ser. No.29/089,942, entitled Hand-held Messaging Device with Keyboard, filed onJun. 26, 1998 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed toward the field of small,hand-held electronic devices such as personal data assistants (PDA's),personal information managers (PIM's), two-way pagers and the like. Inparticular, the system and method of the present invention provide theuser of the hand-held device with the ability to input data with aminimal amount of key strokes and optimized for use substantially withthe thumbs.

[0003] In a two-way paging system that provides two-way, full textmessaging, there is a need to permit the user to initiate messages andto respond to messages in a timely fashion and with text entirelycreated by the user. In order to keep the form factor of the two-waypager small enough to be worn on the body of the user, such as with abelt clip, the input device needs to be small, have a minimal number ofkeys and optimized for use with a minimal number of key strokes. Priorart systems have attempted to address these needs by incorporatingvirtual keyboards or pen-based input systems for user inputs to thedevice, but such systems require the user to input data in an unfamiliarmanner. Additionally, in a small hand-held messaging device, such as atwo-way pager. these systems prove awkward to use.

[0004] In order to provide a hand-held electronic device that permits auser the opportunity to enter data into an address book, a calendar, atask list, an email message or a similar text file that requiresuser-generated data, the instant invention is directed to an inputdevice that is oriented to be used substantially through use of thethumbs. This is accomplished first by providing a keyboard with aminimal number of keys, but with the keys representing the alphabetgenerally placed in the same order as they would appear on a standardkeyboard, such as in a standard QWERTY or a DVORAK keyboard layout. Theuse of a keyboard layout that is familiar to the user enables the userto immediately use the device without having to hunt for the keys he orshe wishes to use.

[0005] Although the layout is similar to a standard keyboard, the keysare placed at an orientation and in a particular shape that attempts tomaximize the surface area of the thumb hitting the key and to providethe user with a comfortable position of the hands for data input. Also,the orientation encourages input by the thumbs, which the inventors ofthe instant invention have discovered to be faster and more accurate insmall hand-held electronic devices than touch-typing or “hunting andpecking” typing.

[0006] An additional feature of the invention is thus use of anadditional input means for control of functions that might otherwise becontrolled by a keyboard that included function keys. To encourage dataentry using thumbs and again to minimize the number of keys on thekeyboard, the instant invention also includes a thumb-wheel for controlof menus for section of forms and functions relevant to data input. Thethumb-wheel is positioned in close proximity to the keyboard to enablethe easily transition from thumb-based typing to thumb control of formsand functions.

[0007] In addition to hardware features that encourage optimal dataentry through the use of thumbs, there are several software featuresthat are designed to minimize keystrokes and aid in entry of data.

[0008] The features of this invention, both individually andcollectively, have not, to the knowledge of the inventors, been appliedto a small hand-held electronic device that requires user-generated dataentry. To permit efficient operation of such devices while keeping theform factor of the device small enough to be worn on the body, there isa general need for a hand-held electronic device that can fit in thepalm of the hand and that can be operated substantially with the thumbs.

[0009] There is a further need for a keyboard for a palm-size data entrydevice with keys placed at an angle to optimize operation of thekeyboard by the use of the thumbs.

[0010] There remains another need for a keyboard with keys that areshaped and sized to maximize contact with the thumbs while minimizingthe keyboard area required for such keys.

[0011] There also remains a need for an auxiliary input device that isto be operated by the thumb for data inputs forms and function controland that, in conjunction with the keyboard, encourages and permits dataentry and management through input performed substantially by thethumbs.

[0012] There remains still another need for a software-implemented userinterface system that is designed, at least in part, to support andencourage data entry through use of the thumbs.

SUMMARY

[0013] The present invention overcomes the problems noted above andsatisfies the needs in this field for a hand-held electronic device witha keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs. In the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the hand-held electronic device isa two-way paging device that permits full-text, two-way messaging suchas email messaging and that includes standard PDA or PIM features suchas an address book, an electronic calendar, a task list and othertext-based features. These features require user input of text stringsthat can be lengthy and that cannot be reduced to pre-determined or“canned” strings. Thus, for such a device, the efficient entry of datain a device meant to fit into the palm of one's hand requires that twogoals are achieved. First, the data entry must be relatively easy from auser perspective. This means that the user must be somewhat familiarwith analogous forms of data entry and not have to be trained to use thedata entry for the hand-held device. Second, the form factor does notpermit a large number of keys or keys that are very large. Thusefficient use of the keyboard space is required and functions that mightbe able to be performed by a standard keyboard are off-loaded to anauxiliary input device or are performed, through a minimal number ofkeystrokes that encourage the use of thumb-based data entry.

[0014] To accomplish these goals. the invention first optimizes theplacement of the keys on the device keyboard. In order to work withinthe limited space available for the keyboard, it was determined that itwas preferable to use keys that were oval or oblong and that were placedat angles designed to facilitate use by thumb typing. An angle for thekeys on the right side of the keyboard and a complementary angle for thekeys on the left side of the keyboard are chosen based upon observationof the angle at which a user will orient his or her thumbs whilethumb-typing.

[0015] The invention also minimizes the number of keys available fordata input. In the preferred embodiment, only keys for the 26 letters ofthe English alphabet are available as well as a backspace key, a linefeed key, an “alt” key, a “cap” key and a space bar. The alt key enablesthe user in conjunction the other keys to input numbers and symbols toperform certain functions. The placement of the keys is designed toenhance the user experience while typing with the thumbs by meeting twoseemingly opposite goals—minimizing the keyboard footprint whilemaximizing the likelihood that proper keys will be struck by thethumb-typing user.

[0016] The invention also provides additional incentive for the user touse thumb input by providing an input device adjacent to the keyboard,but integral to the overall hand-held device. Although other devices canbe used in an auxiliary fashion, the preferred device is a thumbwheelthat registers movement of the wheel by measuring the number of indentstraversed while rolling the wheel and that also registers as an inputthe depression or “clicking” of the wheel, which is performed bypressing the wheel toward the back of the pager. This clicking of thewheel is similar to the clicking of a mouse associated with a PC or anyother input device that registers the depression of a button. Thethumbwheel in the preferred embodiment is placed vertically on thetwo-way paging device so that the user can easily move his or her thumbfrom the thumbwheel to the keyboard and back for performing functionsand retrieving data forms, such as an e-mail template or address bookentry template. for data entry.

[0017] Additionally, various software techniques can be implemented toenhance the thumbtyping use's experience in using the device of theinstant invention. In the preferred embodiment, for example, the usercan change the capitalization of a particular letter simply by keeping akey depressed for a particular length of time without an intermittentrelease being detected by the keyboard controller.

[0018] The primary advantage of the present invention is that it enablesefficient and user-friendly data entry into a palm-sized electronicdevice by maximizing the potential for user data entry through thumbtyping.

[0019] These are just a few of the many advantages of the presentinvention, as described in more detail below. As will be appreciated,the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and itsseveral details are capable of modifications in various respects, allwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and description of the preferred embodiment set forth below areto be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention satisfies the needs noted above as willbecome apparent from the following description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a two-way, full-text, messagingdevice incorporating a keyboard and an auxiliary data entry device.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the hand-held device showing the shapeand placement of the keys on the keyboard and the auxiliary inputdevice.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a diagram of showing the shape. size and placement ofthe keys on the keyboard.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a diagram of the control circuitry for the thumbwheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of themajor subsystems and elements comprising a palm-sized, mobile, two-waymessaging device that preferably incorporates the invention. In itsbroadest terms, the messaging device includes a transmitter/receiversubsystem 100 connected to a DSP 200 for digital signal processing ofthe incoming and outgoing data transmissions, power supply andmanagement subsystem 300, which supplies and manages power to theoverall messaging device components, microprocessor 400, which ispreferably an X86 architecture processor, that controls the operation ofthe messaging device, display 500, which is preferably a full graphicLCD, FLASH memory 600, RAM 700, serial output and port 800, keyboard 900, thumbwheel 1000 and thumbwheel control logic 1010. In its intendeduse, a message comes via a wireless data network, such as the Mobitexnetwork, into subsystem 100, where it is demodulated via DSP 200 anddecoded and presented to microprocessor 300 for display on display 500.To access the display of the message, the user may choose from functionslisted under a menu presented as a result of user interaction withthumbwheel 1000. If the message is an email message, the user may choseto respond to the email by selecting “Reply” from a menu presented onthe display through interaction via thumbwheel 1000 or via menuselection from keyboard 900. In typing the reply, the user can usekeyboard 900 to type full text message replies, or insert pre-determinedor “canned” response by using either a particular keystroke pattern orthrough pulling down pre-determined text strings from a menu of itemspresented on display 500 through the use of thumbwheel 1000. When thereply to the message is composed. the user can initiate the sending ofthe message preferably by interaction through thumbwheel 1000, oralternatively, with less efficiency, through a combination of keyboard900 keystrokes. When the microprocessor 300 receives an indication thatthe message is to be sent, it processes the message for transport and,by directing and communicating with transmitter/receiver subsystem 100,enables the reply message to be sent via the wireless communicationsdata network to the intended recipient. Similar interaction through I/Odevices keyboard 900 and thumbwheel 1000 can be used to initiatefull-text messages or to forward messages to another party. Also, thekeyboard 900 and thumbwheel 1000 can be used to permit data entry to anaddress book resident on the messaging device, or an electronic calendaror log book, or any other function on the messaging device requiringdata entry. Preferably, the thumbwheel is a thumbwheel with a pushbutton SPST with quadrature signal outputs, such as that manufactured byMatsushita Electronic Components Co. Ltd. as part number EVQWK2001.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a front view of messaging device 10 that incorporatesthe invention. Shown in FIG. 2 are a plurality of letter keys 901, andspecialized keys 902, 903, 904 and 905 and space bar 906. Also shown isthumbwheel 1000 in its vertical orientation and in association withdisplay 500 and keyboard 900. In the preferred embodiment, 902 is thealt key, 903 is the cap key. 904 is the line feed key and 905 is thebackspace key.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a view of a subset of the letter keys 901, showing thedimensions and relative position of the keys. Shown also is the point950 that marks the center of keyboard 900, key dimensions 970, 971, 972and 973, as well as angle 960 and the rho value 965, representingcurvature of a letter key 901. In investigating optimal key placement onthe keyboard, it was determined that the keys should be placed at anangle 960 relative to vertical that facilitated easy typing usingthumbs. That angle is preferably positive 40 degrees relative tovertical for keys on the right side of the keyboard (where 950 is thecenter of the keyboard) and negative 40 degrees for the keys on the leftside of the keyboard, although complementary angles ranging from 20degrees to 70 degrees could also be used to accomplish the goal, albeitless optimally, of facilitating thumb typing. Also as shown on FIGS. 2and 3, the keys are dispersed across keyboard 900 evenly so that thereis sufficient space between the keys to decrease the opportunity formultiple keys being depressed while thumb typing. Additionally, the keysare sized appropriate given the footprint of the messaging device andthe keyboard 900. In its preferred embodiment, the messaging device 10measures across its face 64 mm by 89 mm, which does not leave much roomfor keyboard 900 and display 500. In the preferred embodiment, keyboard900 occupies over half of the face of the messaging device 10.

[0028] The key shape and dimensions are also key components of theinvention. In order to maximize the surface area of the key that a thumbwould hit, the keys are preferably oval, and have a rho 965 defining thecurvature of the key of 0.4 14, although values may range higher orlower. Other rho values will lead to an acceptable, but not as optimalor aesthetically pleasing shape of keys 901. As to the key dimensions,the width 970 of the key 901 is 4.8 millimeters (971 representing theradius of half that value, 2.4 mm) and the length (or height) 972 of thekey 901 is 7 millimeters millimeters (973 representing the radius ofhalf that value, 3.5 mm).

[0029] Turning to one of the software features that aids in the device10 being optimally used for thumb typing is a capitalization featureimplemented via software. If a user depresses a key 901, the operatingsystem detects a key down event. If the key is released after a periodof time, the operating system detects a key up event. If upon a key downevent, a period of time elapses before a key up event is detected, theoperating system determines that a key repeat event has occurredrepresenting a situation where a user has continued to depress a keywithout releasing it. A key repeat event is then treated by applicationsoftware residing in either FLASH 600 or RAM 700 as an event thatrequires the capitalization of the key previously depressed. Thisfeature disables a key repeat feature and substitutes instead acapitalization feature based upon a key repeat. The timing of the keyscanning to determine whether a key has been released can be set topermit a slower keyboard response or a faster keyboard response,depending upon user experience or preferences. Although thecapitalization function preferably works only to change the state of aletter to a capital, it alternatively could operate to change a capitalletter to a lower case letter. The actual display is changed by theapplication program substituting the value of the capital letter in theregister that holds the value of the letter to be displayed. Asalternatively implemented, the continued depressing without release of aletter key could result in a key oscillating between upper case andlower case, depending on the length of time the key is depressed.

[0030]FIG. 4 is the logic circuitry 1010 associated with thumbwheel1000. Thumbwheel 1000 outputs quadrature signals phase A 1021 and phaseB 1022, which are processed by D flip-flops 1031 and 1032 to presentsignals 1041 W_UP and 1042 W_DN to microprocessor 300. Signals 1041 and1042 represent, respectively, a user rolling the thumbwheel up androlling the thumbwheel down.

[0031] Having described in detail the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, including the preferred methods of operation, it isto be understood that this operation could be carried out with differentelements and steps. This preferred embodiment is presented only by wayof example and is not meant to limit the scope of the present inventionwhich is defined by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A hand-held messaging device, comprising: a keyboard thatis horizontally positioned symmetrically between a left edge and a rightedge of a face of the hand-held messaging device and having a pluralityof keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the face, wherein eachrow of keys is arranged in a concave pattern; a display that isvertically positioned between the keyboard and a top edge of the faceand horizontally positioned symmetrically between the left edge and theright edge of the face; an auxiliary input device; and a processorcoupled to the keyboard, the auxiliary input device and the display thatcontrols the operation of the hand-held messaging device.
 2. Thehand-held messaging device of claim 1, wherein each row of keys isarranged in a concave-down pattern.
 3. The hand-held messaging device ofclaim 1, wherein each row of keys is arranged along an arc.
 4. Thehand-held messaging device of claim 1, wherein at least one of theplurality of keys of the keyboard is oblong.
 5. The hand-held messagingdevice of claim 4, wherein the oblong key is tilted at an angle from avertical axis extending through a center of the key.
 6. The hand-heldmessaging device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys of thekeyboard are oblong.
 7. The hand-held messaging device of claim 6,wherein a first portion of the oblong keys are tilted at a negativeangle from vertical and a second portion of the oblong keys are tiltedat a positive angle from vertical.
 8. The hand-held messaging device ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of keys of the keyboardis oval.
 9. The hand-held messaging device of claim 8, wherein the ovalkey is tilted at an angle from a vertical axis extending through acenter of the key.
 10. The hand-held messaging device of claim 1,wherein the plurality of keys each have a shape that is contoured foroptimal typing with a user's thumbs.
 11. The hand-held messaging deviceof claim 1, wherein each key of the keyboard is aligned along a verticalaxis with a key from an adjacent row.
 12. The hand-held messaging deviceof claim 1, wherein the keyboard includes three (3) rows of keys,wherein each of the three rows of keys includes a first set of keys thatare arranged in a pattern having a positive slope from vertical and asecond set of keys that are arranged in a pattern having a negativeslope from vertical.
 13. The hand-held messaging device of claim 1,wherein the keyboard includes twenty-six (26) letter keys.
 14. Thehand-held messaging device of claim 13, wherein the twenty-six (26)letter keys are arranged in the format of a QWERTY-style keyboard. 15.The hand-held messaging device of claim 14, further comprising: a row offunctional keys that are horizontally positioned symmetrically orsubstantially symmetrically between a left edge and a right edge of theface of the hand-held messaging device and vertically positioned betweenthe keyboard and a bottom edge of the hand-held messaging device. 16.The hand-held messaging device of claim 15, wherein the row offunctional keys includes a space bar.
 17. The hand-held messaging deviceof claim 15, wherein the row of functional keys includes an alt key, andwherein at least one letter key has an associated alternate characterthat may be input to the processor by simultaneously depressing theletter key and the alt key.
 18. The hand-held messaging device of claim15, wherein the row of functional keys includes a shift key.
 19. Thehand-held messaging device of claim 15, wherein the row of functionalkeys includes a menu key.
 20. The hand-held messaging device of claim 1,further comprising: at least one additional functional key positionedabove the keyboard.
 21. The hand-held messaging device of claim 20,wherein the additional functional key is a backspace key.
 22. Thehand-held messaging device of claim 20, wherein the additionalfunctional key is a home key.
 23. The hand-held messaging device ofclaim 20, wherein the additional functional key is an escape key. 24.The hand-held messaging device of claim 20, wherein the additionalfunctional key is a menu key.
 25. The hand-held messaging device ofclaim 20, wherein the additional functional key is a delete key.
 26. Thehand-held messaging device of claim 20, wherein the additionalfunctional key is a cursor-left key.
 27. The hand-held messaging deviceof claim 20, wherein the additional functional key is a cursor-rightkey.
 28. The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 wherein the auxiliaryinput device is a thumbwheel.
 29. The hand-held messaging device ofclaim 1, further comprising: a wireless radio subsystem coupled to theprocessor that transmits and receives electronic messages from awireless network; and a memory device coupled to the processor thatstores electronic messages received from the wireless network.
 30. Thehand-held messaging device of claim 29, further comprising: applicationsoftware executing on the processor, wherein the application softwareincludes an electronic messaging application that receives electronicmessages that are wirelessly redirected to the hand-held messagingdevice from a redirection software application executing on a corporateserver.
 31. The hand-held messaging device of claim 30, wherein theapplication software includes a calendar application.
 32. The hand-heldmessaging device of claim 1, further comprising: a rechargeable batterycoupled to the processor that supplies power to the hand-held messagingdevice.
 33. A hand-held messaging device, comprising: a device housinghaving a face, a bottom surface, and a plurality of connecting surfacesfor connecting the face to the bottom surface; a display mounted withinthe face of the device housing and horizontally positioned symmetricallybetween a left edge of the face and a right edge of the face; a keyboardmounted within the face of the device housing in a position between thedisplay and a bottom edge of the face, wherein the keyboard comprises aQWERTY-style keyboard having a plurality of keys arranged in a pluralityof rows across the face; wherein each row of keys is arranged in aconcave pattern and is distributed symmetrically across the face of thehousing, wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of letter keys and atleast one specialized key; an auxiliary input device mounted within thehousing; and a processor coupled to the keyboard, the auxiliary inputdevice and the display that controls the operation of the hand-heldmessaging device.
 34. The hand-held messaging device of claim 33,wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave-down pattern.
 35. Thehand-held messaging device of claim 33, wherein each row of keys isarranged along an arc.
 36. The hand-held messaging device of claim 33,wherein the plurality of keys are oblong.
 37. The hand-held messagingdevice of claim 36, wherein the oblong shaped keys are tilted withrespect to a vertical reference through the face of the device housing.38. The hand-held messaging device of claim 36, wherein the oblongshaped keys are oval shaped.
 39. The hand-held messaging device of claim33, wherein the specialized key is a line feed key.
 40. The hand-heldmessaging device of claim 33, wherein the specialized key is a backspacekey.
 41. The hand-held messaging device of claim 33, wherein thekeyboard further comprises a row of functional keys.
 42. The hand-heldmessaging device of claim 41, wherein the row of functional keysincludes at least a space bar key, an alt key, and a shift key.
 43. Thehand-held messaging device of claim 41, wherein the row of functionalkeys includes at least a space bar key, a shift key, and a menu key. 44.The hand-held messaging device of claim 33, wherein the hand-held deviceis a two-way pager, a personal digital assistant or an electronicorganizer.
 45. The hand-held messaging device of claim 33, wherein theauxiliary input device is mounted within one of the connecting surfaces.46. The hand-held messaging device of claim 33, wherein the auxiliaryinput device is a thumbwheel.
 47. The hand-held messaging device ofclaim 33, wherein the auxiliary input device includes a directionalinput component for navigating a plurality of menu items presented onthe display and a selector switch for selecting a menu item from theplurality of menu items.
 48. The hand-held messaging device of claim 33,further comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receivingmessages.
 49. The hand-held messaging device of claim 48, furthercomprising: a first antenna for receiving messages; and a second antennafor transmitting messages.
 50. The hand-held messaging device of claim49, wherein the transceiver further comprises: a receiver, coupled tothe first antenna, for demodulating the received messages; and atransmitter, coupled to the second antenna, for generating a modulatedmessage.
 51. The hand-held messaging device of claim 50, wherein thetransceiver further comprises: a digital signal processor coupled to thetransmitter and the receiver for processing demodulated messages fromthe receiver, and for providing modulation information to thetransmitter.
 52. A wireless e-mail device, comprising: a device housinghaving a face and a left and right side surface coupled to the face; adisplay mounted within the face; a transceiver for receiving e-mailmessages from a wireless network and for transmitting e-mail messagesgenerated on the wireless e-mail device to the wireless network; akeyboard that is horizontally positioned symmetrically between the leftside surface and the right side surface and having a plurality of keysarranged in a plurality of rows across the face, wherein each row ofkeys is arranged in a concave pattern; an auxiliary input device mountedwithin the device housing; and a processor coupled to the keyboard, theauxiliary input device and the display that controls the operation ofthe hand-held messaging device
 53. The wireless e-mail device of claim52, wherein the auxiliary input device is a thumbwheel.
 54. The wirelesse-mail device of claim 52, wherein the auxiliary input device includes adirectional input component for navigating a plurality of menu itemspresented on the display and a selector switch for selecting a menu itemform the plurality of menu items.
 55. The wireless e-mail device ofclaim 52, further comprising an antenna coupled to the transceiver. 56.The wireless e-mail device of claim 52, further comprising: a memory forstoring an operating system and a plurality of application programs thatare executed by the processor to control the operation of the wirelesse-mail device.
 57. The wireless e-mail device of claim 56, wherein theoperating system assigns a plurality of characters to at least one ofthe plurality of keys, and wherein the wireless e-mail device includesan auxiliary input device that is used to select one of the plurality ofcharacters by holding down the at least one key and selecting the one ofthe plurality of characters using the auxiliary input device.
 58. Thewireless e-mail device of claim 56, wherein the memory stores a databaseassociating a plurality of first character phrases with a plurality ofsecond character phrases, and wherein the operating system detects oneof the plurality of first character phrases input by a user of thewireless e-mail device using the keyboard and substitutes the associatedsecond character phase on the display.
 59. The wireless e-mail device ofclaim 56, wherein the memory is a flash memory.
 60. The wireless e-maildevice of claim 56, further comprising a digital signal processorcoupled between the processor and the transceiver.
 61. The wirelesse-mail device of claim 56, wherein the plurality of application programsinclude a messaging application for generating e-mail messages and acalendar application.
 62. The wireless e-mail device of claim 61,wherein the plurality of application programs further include an addressbook application.
 63. The wireless e-mail device of claim 52, furthercomprising a serial port for coupling the wireless e-mail device to ahost computer.
 64. The wireless e-mail device of claim 52, furthercomprising a power supply system including a rechargeable battery and anexternal charger input for receiving a source of electrical charge torecharge the rechargeable battery.
 65. The wireless e-mail device ofclaim 64, wherein the rechargeable battery is a lithium battery.
 66. Thewireless e-mail device of claim 64, wherein the power supply subsystemfurther includes a voltage regulator coupled to the rechargeable batteryfor generating a regulated supply voltage for powering the device. 67.The wireless e-mail device of claim 64, wherein the power supplysubsystem further includes connections to a microprocessor formonitoring the operation of the power supply subsystem.
 68. A hand-heldmessaging device, comprising: a device housing having a face; a displaymounted within the face; a keyboard mounted within the face of thedevice housing in a position between the display and a bottom edge ofthe face, wherein the keyboard comprises a QWERTY-style keyboard havinga plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the face,wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave pattern and isdistributed symmetrically across the face of the housing, wherein thekeyboard includes a plurality of letter keys and at least onespecialized key; an auxiliary input device mounted within the devicehousing; means for receiving e-mail messages from a wireless network andfor transmitting e-mail messages generated on the wireless e-mail deviceto the wireless network.